Fishing at Corkscrew Lake, Timiskaming District, Ontario

• Overview

  Corkscrew Lake sits in Timiskaming District, out in Ontario. It sits at 357 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 8 hectares — small enough to read in one session. The nearest town is Timmins, 65 km away. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 157 km distant. Within easy reach: Bowl Lake lies 0.5 km on, Teddy Lake at 0.7 km, Mule Lake lies 1 km on, Two Lodge Lake at 1.2 km and Patricia Lake lies 1.3 km on. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Corkscrew Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Timiskaming District names brook trout, northern pike, yellow perch and Iowa darter. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Corkscrew Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -17°C to 17°C. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan around that when you fish Corkscrew Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Bowl Lake, 0.5 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Corkscrew Lake carry more weight than any list.